Alexandra to Queenstown, Friday 4 February










1) Peters Bike on the Atomic Shuttles Bus at Cromwell

2) Martin in the Kawarau Gorge

3) Martin and the new tar road



Alexandra to Queenstown, Friday 4 February.

Today I started from Dunedin with an 8.00 am Atomic Shuttles bus to Cromwell 20 miles north of Alexandra to catch up with and meet the others for elevenses. When the bus arrived the driver had to turn the engine off to get the rack for my bike out of the engine compartment. When he came to start it wouldn't go so he gave the passengers a choice of waiting 30 minutes for a mechanic or all getting out to push- start so we did the latter. This was the first time I push started my bus.

The day started clouded and misty but gradually cleared up as the bus headed inland. By Roxbough 20 miles SW of Alexandra skies were clear with temperatures for the day due to reach a cooler (than yesterday) 33C.

Peter had decided that he wouldn't be able to cope with the temperatures and climbs so he booked with Atomic Shuttles the Bus from Cromwell to Queenstown. On arrival my bike was taken off the bus and Peters loaded on.

Martin and I rode through superb scenery alongside the Kawarau Gorge with its milky blue river with crystal clear blue skies. The only problem of the ride came when we reached a 4 kilometre stretch of freshly laid new tar and Chipping's. This immediately jammed up mudguards and we had to walk on the verge. Even here pieces of tar thrown up by cars jammed Chipping's into the mudguards and Martins front mudguard ended up torn in two and had to be taken off.

Further on our route we came to the Kawarau Bridge and scene of Martins planned Bungy jump of tomorrow. We stopped at the cafe and to view the production line of Bungy jumpers going off every 5 minutes. The record is 402 in a day

My mileage for the day was 36.8 and climb was 3427ft.